Well this book is a wild ride, both literally and figuratively. Set on the Orient Express, four people find themselves on a semi-forced vacation at the request of a mysterious, and reclusive author, Ginerva Ex. At the center of the group, Rory, was rewarded this trip as a final thank you for being the inspiration of Ginerva's latest novel. Rory, however doesn;t know that three close family members and friends from her past are also on the train. As the group travels from city to city, secrets come unraveled and tension grow as paranoia sets in.

The Main Character has a very intriguing premise and sets the reader on edge with surprises set for the main protagonist, Rory, from the first pages. The unknown author, Ginerva, almost uses these people as her puppets, shaping her next novel by her whims and as the reader I found the plot twists to be well placed and unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this novel.

I was drawn in by the cover on this but the book didn’t quite live up to cover. I loved the premise of an author basing her characters off real people and then deciding to send them all on a trip on the Orient Express as a surprise but it was so boring. The pacing was so slow and very little happened. The best parts of this book was the scenes describing where they traveled too. I enjoyed some of the small dramas but the stakes were so low it wasn’t enough to carry this book and keep me interested. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

The premise of this book sounded really exciting at first, but sadly, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. It's not like an Agatha Christie mystery at all, and there’s no real murder to solve, which was a bit of a letdown. While the book is okay, it doesn't deliver on what it claims to be.

The plot had potential, with the idea of a contemporary Orient Express and a mystery around Ginevra, but it didn’t quite stick the landing. Some parts of the story felt like they were lifted straight from Christie’s novels, which made it feel a bit unoriginal.

I’ll admit, I enjoyed the first half of the book; it had an interesting start. But as the story went on, it took a turn that felt a bit all over the place. Too much was happening at once, and the point of view kept switching from chapter to chapter, which made it hard to keep track of who was speaking and what was going on.

The main character’s storyline had promise, but it wasn’t until the very end that anything exciting really happened. By that point, there were still a lot of unanswered questions, and the ending felt rushed and abrupt.

Overall, while I wasn’t wowed by this novel, it wasn’t awful. It’s fine if you need something to read, but it didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Jaclyn Goldis. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Ginevra Ex is a famous author who is known for writing her mystery novels based on a real person. For her next book, she picks Rory, a disgraced newscaster, and offers her a lot of money for telling Ginerva her story. When the novel is completed, Ginerva gifts Rory with a train ride through Italy. But Rory is surprised to see that Ginerva also invited her estranged brother, her ex-boyfriend, and her best friend. Just what is she planning? And who can Rory trust?

This book was promoted as being an Agatha Christie type locked-room mystery, and while it did take place on the Orient Express, it didn't have the same tight mystery as I was expecting. There were quite a few characters and the POV changed often, so I found myself a bit confused at times. This is a very character-driven novel, more so than a mystery. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various locales as well as the historical aspects.

Trains are everywhere in Europe! I could feel the suspense building with each stop.
Wishing for more train focus since they are on a train but the book mostly focused on their interactions with each other.

I enjoyed the alternating time lines and how the story's intertwined at the end.

I liked this locked room mystery that is a modern homage to Agatha Christie's famous novels. Reclusive author, Ginevra Ex, writes her bestselling books by researching the lives of real people. Her latest main character, Rory, is invited on the newly renovated Orient Express. When Rory arrives, she discovers that several people from her life are also invited and all of them harbor secrets. Ginevra orchestrated a real life mystery as secrets and twists are revealed. I liked that there are several POVs in the this book and we get to learn about all the characters as the book goes on. There are elements of the mystery that are revealed with each chapter and that kept me engaged throughout. I did find that the beginning and middle are slower than the ending. The pace really picks up at the end and most of the questions I had are answered. The ending is pretty abrupt that leaves the actual outcome a little open ended. I thought that was pretty well done, but I would have liked some closure. The characters are fairly unlikeable, but I enjoy reading about unlikeable characters in thrillers, they usually add to the plot and I feel like these characters did. Overall, I think this was a decent thriller and I liked the homage to Agatha Christie's novels. I enjoyed the audiobook as well and the writing kept me engaged.

Loved the cover, but the inside was just a mess. I feel like this was Agatha Christie shaken in a bag and dumped out pieces together by a computer.

The Main Character was unlike any other story I've ever read. It was a very different main plot that I don't think any other book has ever had. It was incredibly mysterious, untraditional and unexpected. I loved every second of it. I would say while the first half of the book was super slow and a little boring, you wanted to keep reading because you knew it was going to pay off. Goldis is an incredible writer that has a way of revealing secrets line by line, instead of one word vomiting monologue.

The Main Character is such a unique novel, with so much story it's hard to explain how everything becomes intertwined. If you love mysteries and want a dramatic Italian vacation, you will love this book.

Everyone wants to recreate Christie's fantastic mystery, but like the others, this falls short of the goal. Unlikeable characters and a plot that goes nowhere fast make for a slog hidden behind a gorgeous cover.

I love Agatha Christie so the prospect of this cozy mystery had my really excited. The plot is pretty original. I love the idea of a modern-day Orient Express, and the purpose of the surprise luxurious train trip is unique. The setting is fun and exotic but ultimately, I found this book really hard to get into and the characters were generally unlikable, which works for some but sadly not for me.

I liked the general concept of it, but the pacing was extremely slow. It took me a long time to finish this book and it just didn't wow me.

This was SO SLOW. The setting and story was interesting but it was much much too long. And the characters weren’t my favorite. It could have been done much better.

The premise of the book was so interesting, but I don't feel like it delivered. The dialogue felt repetitive and any interesting plot point got squashed quickly. I was also lost the entire time as there were too many POV's. There also wasn't a single likeable character in my opinion.

Authors hire main characters? New to me, and in the book appropriately title, Genevra Ex has done exactly that. 26 times. 26 Main Characters. Genevra will go to any lengths to reesearch those who become her chosen ones. And then she can practice veritas, spinning truth from fiction. As a mostly successful author, her last book has bombed. Meanwhile, Genevra has orchestrated a three-month trip on the famed Orient Express for Rory, who is her latest main characters. Rory soon learns she is not on the trip alone, as she will be riding along her friends and her brother. However, it is Rory alone who will be enjoying decadent accommodations. Being one of Genevra’s main characters does not come without cost. In fact, it comes with dire consequences.

Excellent premise, to be sure. However, the execution fell short of my expectations. I admittedly struggled through this book, and it nearly reached the point of abandonment on several occasions. Maybe it was the storyline. Maybe it was the characters. As a diehard fan of Murder on the Orient Express, I was excited to imagine such a murder mystery, but that didn’t happen. Furthermore, the characters failed to evoke any emotional connection, making it difficult for me to remain engaged with the narrative.

Many thanks to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I read this book to 60% and I couldn’t get into it. It never grabbed my attention and I didn’t really care for the characters. It’s not poorly written, I definitely think there is a group of readers who will and do love it, it’s just not me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel!

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis in quick, rapid fire thoughts.

-character driven with multiple points of view
-various unlikable and deceptive personalities
-dark and edgy tone
-slow reveal of hidden information
-various buried secrets created family drama
-twisted plot full of surprises
-more depth and history than anticipated
-startling ending
-four stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary copy to read and review.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldie offers a gripping, high-stakes locked-room mystery that pulls readers into an opulent world of secrets, lies, and deception. Ginevra Ex, a reclusive bestselling author with a unique method for creating her characters, has invited her latest muse, Rory, on an extravagant trip along Italy's Mediterranean coast aboard the legendary Orient Express. What seems like a luxurious adventure soon takes a dark turn when Rory discovers that her brother, best friend, and ex-fiancé are all also on board, each hiding secrets of their own. The deeper Rory digs, the clearer it becomes that Ginevra is orchestrating a real-life thriller, and soon, Rory starts to fear that this trip might end in murder—just like one of Ginevra's books.

Goldie crafts a story that's both immersive and suspenseful, weaving in rich settings and a plot that keeps you on edge. The homage to Agatha Christie is clear, with its locked-room structure and an ensemble cast of characters whose hidden motivations and twisting relationships drive the tension. The Mediterranean coast and the luxurious train setting are vivid and atmospheric, adding to the intrigue.

However, there were a few elements that kept me from fully loving the book. The pacing felt slow at times, especially in the first half, and it took me a while to really get invested in the story. While the characters were meant to be complex and mysterious, I found them largely unlikeable and a bit flat, which made it difficult to connect with them emotionally. Additionally, the ending felt somewhat abrupt, leaving several plot points unresolved, which may frustrate some readers looking for closure.

Despite these issues, The Main Character delivers plenty of twists and tension, and Goldie’s writing keeps you engaged even when the pacing lags. It's a fun, suspenseful read for fans of psychological thrillers and Agatha Christie-inspired mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

One of my favorites of the year. No other words needed.

I loved Jaclyn Goldis's The Chateau, so I was excited to read The Main Character. The Orient Express is an opulent and claustrophobic setting perfect for the plot. The narrators, not always reliable, weave a tale full of twists and turns. And at times I thought the story was losing momentum, but really the author was just building towards another bit reveal. I would recommend this book to fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley, and of course Agatha Christie.

In The Main Character, Jaclyn Goldis introduces us to Ginevra Ex, a bestselling thriller author known for her unconventional writing methods. Ginevra hires real people to inspire her books and conducts deep, probing interviews before weaving their stories into her fiction. When she invites Rory, her latest protagonist, on an extravagant train journey along Italy’s coast on the iconic Orient Express, Rory is surprised to find her brother, best friend, and even her ex-fiancé also on board. With each stop, Rory realizes that Ginevra has orchestrated a web of deception, and secrets from her companions come to light. As the tension mounts, Rory fears that this journey could end like one of Ginevra’s thrillers—with deadly consequences.

While the book’s concept is intriguing, I found the execution lacking. The story tries to evoke the suspense of Murder on the Orient Express, but it ended up feeling overly long and at times, tedious. The frequent back-and-forth between characters often felt unnecessary, and their actions seemed immature, making it hard to stay invested. Unfortunately, the pacing didn’t match the suspenseful premise, and I struggled to stay engaged with the story. Despite the promising setup, The Main Character didn’t deliver the gripping, twisty experience I was hoping for.